Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.
What are the signs and symptoms of Asperger's syndrome?
Social-behavioral symptoms can begin as early as infancy. Characteristic
differences are seen in social development, but these changes are hard to
identify in toddlers and may be attributed to another condition or not perceived
as abnormal. Most cases of Asperger syndrome are identified when the child is
school-aged or older; studies have shown an average age at diagnosis of 11
years. Some of the symptoms that may be present are:
lack of social awareness;
lack of interest in socializing/making friends;
difficulty making and sustaining friendships;
inability to infer the thoughts, feelings, or emotions of others;
either gazing too intently or avoiding eye contact;
lack of changing facial expression, or use of exaggerated facial
expressions;
lack of use or comprehension of gestures;
failure to respect interpersonal boundaries;
unusually sensitive to noises, touch, odors, tastes, or visual stimuli;
inflexibility and over-adherence to or dependence on routines; and
stereotypes and repetitive motor patterns such as hand flapping or arm
waving.
Another defining characteristic of Asperger syndrome is the presence of
perseverative and obsessive interests in special topics (such as cars or trains,
or even more narrow topics such as vacuum cleaners), which may be of little
interest to others.
These interests are unusually repetitive and intense when compared to other
children's interests.
Specific or narrow interests remain the focus of the child's interest and
conversation in spite of efforts to redirect the child's attention.
Language development in children with Asperger syndrome is generally normal,
in contrast to other autistic conditions. Children with Asperger's syndrome have
normal scores on tests for language function involving vocabulary, syntax, and
grammar. In fact, some experts believe the presence of normal language
development to distinguish Asperger syndrome from high-functioning autism.
However, the use or application of language skills is altered in people with
Asperger syndrome:
Their speech may be disorganized or not relevant to the discussion, or they
may focus too intently on their defined area of interest (see above) in
conversations.
Changes in voice and speaking (for example, speaking too loudly or dramatically,
using an invariant tone, loud pitch, speaking too rapidly or too slow) can also
be seen.
Language may be interpreted literally, and difficulties can arise with
interpreting language in a specific context.
There are difficulties with the subtle use of language, such as irony or
sarcasm.
In school, children with Asperger syndrome tend to excel with the rote
learning often required in the early grades. As they get older, they may have
more difficulties in school due to the nature of reading comprehension and
written assignments. Special education support is sometimes, but not always,
necessary.
Sometimes, people with Asperger disorder have other associated psychiatric
conditions or may show behaviors that are typical for other conditions. Some
common associated conditions include the following (but these are not always
present):
Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults.
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that causes a person to suffer repeated obsessions and compulsions. Symptoms include irresistible impulses despite a person's realization that the thoughts are irrational, excessive hand washing, skin picking, lock checking, or repeatedly rearranging items. People with OCD are more likely to develop trichotillomania, muscle or vocal tics, or an eating disorder. Treatment for OCD includes psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and medication.
Tourette syndrome is disorder, which symptoms include involuntary facial tics, motor tics, and vocal tics. The cause of Tourette syndrome is not known. ADHD is associated with Tourette syndrome. Treatment includes medication, psychotherapy, and in severe cases surgery.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder characterized by the symptoms hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Treatment for ADHD may involve behavioral therapy and psychostimulant or antidepressant medication.
Autism in children and adults is a developmental disorder, characterized by impaired development in communication, social interaction, and behavior. Autism is classified as a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), which is part of a broad spectrum of developmental disorders affecting young children and adults. There are numerous theories and studies about the cause of autism. The treatment model for autism is an educational program that is suitable to an individual's developmental level of performance. There is no "cure" for autism.
Genetic disease is a disorder or condition caused by abnormalities in a person's genome. Types of genetic inheritance include single inheritance (for example, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Marfan syndrome, and hemochromatosis), multifactoral inheritance, chromosome abnormalities (for example, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome), and mitochondrial inheritance (for example, epilepsy and dementia).
Pervasive development disorders (PPDs) are conditions involving developmental delays in children. There are five types of PDDs: autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett's syndrome, and pervasive development disorders not otherwise specified (PDDNOS).
Childhood depression can interfere with social activities, interests, schoolwork and family life. Symptoms and signs include anger, social withdrawal, vocal outbursts, fatigue, physical complaints, and thoughts of suicide. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and medication.
Mental health is an optimal way of thinking, relating to others, and feeling. All of the diagnosable mental disorders fall under the umbrella of mental illness. Depression, anxiety, and substance-abuse disorders are common types of mental illness. Symptoms and signs of mental illness include irritability, moodiness, insomnia, headaches, and sadness. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and medication.
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